France Investigates Smart Glasses Harassment

The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into suspected sexual harassment involving smart glasses, while French data protection authority CNIL has received complaints about their use in the workplace.

The investigation follows a social media trend in which smart glasses users discreetly film women in public without their knowledge and post the footage online.

Prosecutors did not specify which brands were involved. The office’s cybercrime division has, however, tested smart glasses to better understand how they could be misused.

The market leader is Meta’s smart glasses, made in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. Equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence features, they account for about 76% of the global market. Around seven million pairs were sold last year, with sales continuing to grow rapidly.

Their growing popularity has raised concerns about privacy and covert surveillance. Some British cinemas have banned smart glasses, while a German consumer organization has filed a criminal complaint over possible privacy violations. Australia, meanwhile, is considering banning camera-equipped glasses in government workplaces.

CNIL says one of the key issues is ensuring that people know when they are being recorded and that data protection rules are respected. Meta says privacy safeguards have been built into its glasses from the development stage and that it will continue to strengthen them.

(Reuters, mja)